Heir to the throne Prince Charles will become the first senior royal to use a social networking website in an official capacity this week. The 60-year-old royal will use MySpace to broadcast an impassioned plea to save the rainforests.

He hopes the site, which is usually used by friends wanting to keep in touch and music acts to promote themselves, will help his message reach a wider audience. "The Prince knows all about the popularity of social networking sites on the internet through his sons and their friends," says a Clarence House spokesperson.

In the Prince's message, which will be shown at 6pm on Tuesday, he stresses how it is vital to preserve the rainforests in the battle against climate change. The message will be followed by the online premiere of a 90-minute public awareness film made by his own rainforests Project about the cause.